UCR: Volleyball coach Larsen resigns

RIVERSIDE â" UC Riverside volleyball coach Ron Larsen announced his resignation Tuesday afternoon after four losing seasons at the helm of the program.

Larsen, hired in May 2009 to replace Sue Gozansky, had a 23-98 overall record in his four seasons and was 9-57 in Big West play. In 12 seasons of Division I competition, UCR is 91-256 overall and 28-168 in conference play.

Athletic director Brian Wickstrom said a search for a new head coach would begin âimmediately,â but assistant coaches Brianna Koche and Mike Terrill will manage the program in the interim.

Larsen has been an assistant coach for the last two U.S. menâs Olympic teams, winning a gold medal in Beijing in 2008 but being knocked out in the quarterfinals in London in 2012.

But as a college head coach he has a 285-414 record with both men and women, and his won-loss record with womenâs teams at Rutgers-Newark and UCR was 145-194.

Last season the Highlanders were 8-24 overall and 2-16 in the Big West. Their best Big West record under Larsen was 4-12 in 2011.

âIt has been a privilege over the past four years to work with these exceptional young ladies who have brought so much into my life, and I wish them all the best with their future endeavors,â Larsen said in a statement released by the university. âI know that Iâm leaving the program in good hands with Brianna Koche and Mike Terrill, and Iâm hopeful that they will be able to finish the job that we started.â

Wickstrom said that in hiring a replacement, he wants âa head coach that has a history of success or an assistant coach who has been part of a successful program. I want a coach whoâs going to recruit student-athletes who will do well academically but also have a great chance of success.â

Asked if Division I experience would be a prerequisite, he said, âThereâs not really any category thatâs been ruled out â¦ This job is a good, viable job, and itâs going to get a lot of interest. I think itâs going to get some good coaches who appreciate the UC culture, where the athletic department is and where itâs going to be.â

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